Tamiya 1/24 Unisia Jecs Skyline (NISMO GT-R)

[m4rky]

I have been lurking around the forum for a little while and have decided to get back into modelling.
This particular kit was started about 12 years ago!
Every year or two I get it out of the loft and attempt to restart it, but life gets in the way.
So I am counting on you guys to spur me on and help me finish this kit

This is the kit I am building: Tamiya 1/24 Unisia Jecs Skyline (NISMO GT-R)



I have a soft spot for Nissan Skylines and this kit jumped off the shelf at me when I bought it. But I should have opened the box and took a look at the decals before I handed over my money. It's going to be pretty hard work to get them right.



I have already given the body a primer coat and then a coat of White. The instructions state to use TS-26 Pure White, but I mustn't have been able to get that and choose TS-7 Racing White. It's a kind of off white and I am not that fond of it so I have sanded it all down a little (keyed it) and have a TS-26 spray on its way in the post and will redo it.



I had also brush painted the chassis but again the instructions say use TS-17 Gloss Aluminium but I choose to use something else. I can't decided whether to leave it as it is or redo it in Gloss Aluminium but then give it a wash to take the brightness off and make it look a bit more realistic? What do you guys think?



The Front suspension is painted and fits together really nicely



And so does the rear suspension



Here is both the front and rear test fitted in the chassis



And a close up of the front



I have a few more paints and some Extra Thin glue arriving in the next few days so hopefully I will be able to give another update quite soon.
By the time I come to applying the decals I should have got back into modelling and have built up enough courage to apply them.

Thanks,

Mark

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ok Rube, that is funny.......if not a bit disturbing

Mark, it is great to see another auto build post
Your paintwork and color choice look fine to me and the suspension detail is superb
We need to do the pin washes and slight weathering that the tank guys use to make these cars less plastic looking
Keep on posting, I will follow along

[trnkepfc]

Looking forward to this...

[m4rky]

Just a little update.

I have resprayed the body again trying to get it glossier. Still looks a bit dull. Will give it one more try then I'll stop. There will be too much paint that it will loose the detail.

I have painted the inside floor pan and all the rollcage in Aluminium.The pictures were taken after the first coat. But I have now added a second coat and it looks much more uniform, the brush strokes are not as obvious.




I have also masked the split rims. This took quite some time as there is very little of the rim left for the tape to stick to. Here they are ready for a primer coat then a Gloss white coat.



One thing I have noticed is that I have lost one of the Poly caps for the axle. I have searched all around my desk so I guess I lost it years ago when I first started it. I will have a look in one of the other kits I have in the loft and see if I can swipe one from there. Otherwise the wheels will be glued in place.

Hopefully my next post I will have finished painting the body shell and have the suspension in place.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Keep on going, it is looking good
Remember it is a race car, not a show car and half the body is going to be decals, so don't panic about the paint too much
Really like what you a doing here

[m4rky]

Sorry not taken any more photos. There isn't that much to see since the last update.

I have stopped spraying the body, its still not what I want but its better and like twokidsnosleep/scott says it will be covered with decals. I might try and give it a polish but I am not sure if this is a good idea if I am to apply decals on top.

I have been struggling with brush painting some of the parts in semi gloss black. I have been using Humbrols Acrylic Semis Gloss and I don't like it. It doesn't mix well and when you paint it on it's too thick and leaves horrible brush marks. I have tried thinning it but it quickly becomes too thin.
So I am going to sand the bigger parts that I have painted and buy a rattle can of it and see how well that goes.

Another thing I have been experimenting with is a black wash. I wanted to give the chassis a wash to highlight a few bits and because it just seemed too uniform and nice. I made my own wash by scraping a soft black pastel to create a sort of pigment and mixed it with water and a drop of washing up liquid. I am happy with the way it came out (pictures later).
But I cannot get a wash to stick to the chromed radiator parts. I have tried my own wash and I have tried thinned and non thinned semi gloss arcylic. It doesn't stick or go on evenly. Lightly rubbing with a damped paper towel rubs too much off. It also shows a lot of gaps in the fins of the radiator where the wash has not stayed.

How do you black wash chromed parts??

My next update will have some pics, I promise. I hope I will also have most of the interior done.
Still haven't found any poly caps so it looks like the wheels are going to be glued on.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Hmm, it can be tough getting the wash right
What type of paint and what is your process???

[m4rky]

Its only the black wash on the chrome radiators that I am struggling with.

I have tried black soft pastels mixed with water and a drop of washing up liquid. This worked fine on top of the humbrol enamel paints but just wouldn't stick to the chrome. Came off completely with the paper towel.

Also tried using Humbrol semi-gloss black Acrylic without thinning. This didn't want to stay on either but it was better than the pastel wash.

Would it be better if I took the chrome off and painted the radiator then washed it?
If so what do you use to get the chrome off?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Yes, the paint wash is not sticking to the chrome....weird, you did what I would have and went to a different type of paint
Lots of guys strip all chrome, repaint it Allclad chrome, seal it and then wash with an acrylic or even oils
You can strip chrome with various agents I will give you a link here
http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/inde ... c=1527&hl=
I have used the oven cleaner and bleach, should be fresh <6 months old and TEST a sprue bit first!!!!!!!!!
Many car guys don't go to the trouble you are here and don't get the realism they could...you are on the right track

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ya, you are right Will, don't go full nuclear just yet
But he tried the enamel Humbrol already
Maybe an oil paint trial before stripping....as in Windsor and Newton like artist oils
I have an AK "oil stain" one that smells like a can of Penzoil when I use it....seems to stick to everything but is more brown than the black effect of a grill you are looking to get

[Twokidsnosleep]

Make sure you let the black dry well and maybe a little thicker than before
Careful wipe with a 'cotton bud', as the English like to say, to get the raised chrome to come through
....and if that don't work lets nuke that sucker in bleach!!!

[m4rky]

I haven't tried an Enamel yet. It was an Acrylic.

rubegoldberg: Which AK wash have you got? I have been looking at the AK site and they are all quite specific (oil stain etc) but can't tell which one is black. Aircraft Engine wash looks the best to me.

[Twokidsnosleep]

You picked the hardest thing to stick to...chrome
I am on the hunt for this stuff at my LHS this weekend (not my picture BTW) I am making my own, but this looks easier